Food, Wine and Travel Blog

Italian cuisine is renowned the world over for its fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors. While classic Italian dishes like pizza, pasta, and lasagne are often thought of as traditional Italian food, there is so much more to the cuisine of Europe’s third most visited country. Italy became a single nation-state in the Risorgimento in 1861 […]

The Essence of Lombardian Cuisine Lombardy is a geographically and culinarily diverse landlocked region in northern Italy. Switzerland borders Lombardy to the north, followed by the Veneto and Trentino Alto-Adige to the east, Emilia-Romagna to the south, and Piedmont to the west. Geographically, the spectacular Lombardian landscape consists of three zones: a mountainous Alpine and a pre-Alpine zone in the northern territory near […]

What is Aglianico Wine? Italy has a thousand distinct red grape varieties, each adapted to a niche in the country’s incredibly diverse landscape. Sadly, many of these wonders remained local curiosities throughout the 20th century, consigned to local palates and cuisine. Few connoisseurs in the US and Northern Europe heard of Nerello Mascalese or Greco […]

Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies on the northeastern edge of Italy bordered by Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the south, and the Veneto to the west. Throughout history, the region’s neighbors took a stab at staking their claim to the territory. Consequently, the Austrians, Slavs, Venetians, and even the Romans […]

The Cuisine of Trentino Alto-Adige Tucked away in mountainous northeastern Italy, Trentino Alto-Adige is a unique Italian region in culture and cuisine. The alpine region is made up of two separate and distinctive provinces. Trentino [mostly Italian Cuisine influence], lies in the south encompassing the city of Trento as well. While Alto-Adige, also known as […]

Although the key ingredient in Sicily’s viticulture lacks the global renown of Merlot, every Sicilian will tell you that Nero d’Avola can make spectacular wine. Not even the pungency of charcoal-seared red meat can overwhelm this robust red grape variety, celebrated for its immense structure, ripe acidity, and darkly-colored wines. Wine producers in Sicily are […]

Le Marche is often overlooked in favor of its more well-known neighboring regions like Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. As a result, Le Marche is somewhat of an undiscovered gem for the culinary traveler. The beautiful Adriatic Sea borders the region on the east, where the cuisine is heavily influenced by seafood. Further east inland, you’ll find verdant rolling hills […]

Known as the green heart of Italy, Umbria and its forest laden landscape are nestled in the center of the country. As the only Italian region lacking a coastline, Umbrian cuisine encompasses a plethora of vegetables, legumes, and meat-based dishes. Though Lake Trasimeno, the fourth largest lake in Italy, contributes plenty of freshwater fish and […]

Home to the picturesque Amalfi Coast and mainland Europe’s only active volcano, Campania boasts a vibrant food scene as swoon-worthy as its breathtaking landscapes. The region rests below Rome and was once an integral piece of the Roman Empire. Historically, the Romans turned to the fertile, nutrient-rich pasturelands of Campania, along with the coastal fishing […]

Located in southeast Italy, Puglia is an ideal destination for travelers and foodies alike. The region encompasses the heel of Italy’s boot and is one of the country’s least mountainous areas. Consequently, Apulian terrain is ideal for agriculture, and the region is especially renowned for its olive oil production. Puglia also has the largest coastline […]

Every year travelers flock to the Veneto to visit the region’s world-famous capital, Venice. A city built on the Venetian Lagoon, Venice is a worthwhile destination full of ancient history, stunning palaces, and culinary delights. Yet, travelers would be remiss not to venture beyond the renowned city to experience the spectacular landscapes and diverse Venetian […]

As the second-largest island in the Mediterranean behind Sicily, Sardinia is a top destination for intrepid travelers. The island beckons beachgoers from around the world with its crystalline blue waters and sun-soaked beaches. While Sardinia’s rugged landscape dominated by granite and schist attracts the more adventurous traveler with trekking, climbing, and canyoning excursions. For those seeking […]